A few of our members met at Gateway Haven in Wiarton and brought our hammers, nails, and tools as well as birdhouse kits we made. This time, we made a wren house based on a “modern” design that kind of reminds me of the flat roof/low slope roofs from the 60’s.
We helped clients assemble ten kits as part of the Day Away program run by Home & Community Support Services (HCSS).
The kits were made from pine logs that were donated to Bruce Men’s Shed by member Eric Robinson. Eric and fellow member Scott Elliott arranged with Sandra Wilson at Wilson Home Building Centre to cut these logs into usable thicknesses. We then met at Scott’s workshop where a team of members went to work on the slabs.
First, a straight edge was cut on one side using a track saw, the table saw then cut them to width. The pieces then ran through a rough planing and then a final planing on thickness planers to get them to a reasonable dimension. On the mitre saw, they were then cut into the dimensions as per the birdhouse plan. Sanding came next followed by drilling the openings for the wrens to enter. Finally, the Bruce Men’s Shed branding iron completed the work.
Another member had also packaged nails into small bags that were included with the six pieces for each future kit. From start to finish, ten of us came together to make 27 complete kits with enough pieces for about 10 more.
We encourage new potential members to drop in for Coffee Mondays every week 9am-11am at Canadian Legion Branch 202, 6 Hellyer Road on Highway 6, 4 km north of Ferndale. Doors open at 8:45. Our next monthly meeting is Saturday, October 24th from 9am-11am, where we’ll talk about past and upcoming projects and everyone is invited to come out.
In Wiarton, Bruce Men’s Shed coffee gathering is every Coffee Wednesday at 10 am at 451 Frank street with Matthew Mutch hosting.
For further information on how to get involved with the Men’s Shed movement, please contact us at brucemensshed@gmail.com or call Gerry at (519) 793–3005.
“Somewhere to Go. Something to Do. Someone to Talk to”
